DETROIT, MI -- The Detroit City Council voted Tuesday to urge Mayor Dave Bing's administration to maintain the city's control over Belle Isle.

The 5-4 vote came after, at times, rowdy comments about the state's proposal to take over management of the park. The consent agreement signed between the city and state, designed to stabilize Detroit's finances, includes the state becoming involved in Belle Park's management.

Under an appendix on state investment in Detroit, the agreement says:

Belle Isle – Create park funding for Belle Isle while ensuring continued City ownership by designating Belle Isle as a part of a cooperative relationship with Milliken State Park. This would include a long-term lease that would accrue the cost of the park’s maintenance and improvements out of the Park Endowment Fund. We will partner with Belle Isle Conservancy and the City to implement a master plan for the Island.

Councilmember Joann Watson urged city officials to resist handing over Belle Isle to the state.

"We can't afford it," she said to yells of support from the public in attendance.

Councilmember Kwame Kenwatta planned to introduce an ordinance opposing state takeover of Belle Isle. He said the city should refuse to hand over the park, regardless of what the consent agreement says.